Camp

Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel wasn't fulfilling some of his obligations as a counselor and coach at the Manning family football camp over the weekend and subsequently left a day early. The words " partying " and " hangover " are being tossed around quite a bit on the Internet in relation to the Texas A&M quarterback's early departure, but the camp run in New Orleans by former Saints quarterback Archie Manning and his two NFL QB sons, Peyton and Eli, used a much less controversial word in its official explanation: illness.

Outfielder Joc Pederson and right-hander Zach Lee will be among the 15 prospects who will participate in the Dodgers' annual winter development program next week at Dodger Stadium. The primary purpose of the five-day camp, which starts Sunday, is to familiarize players with the Los Angeles area, as well as life in the major leagues. Over the last six years, 40 graduates of the program reached the major leagues. The players will perform community service and listen to a series of speakers, including Don Mattingly, Tom Lasorda, Don Newcombe, Maury Wills, Eric Karros, Shawn Green, Stan Kasten (kids, just laugh at his jokes, even if they aren't funny)

Is Justin Bieber retiring? Well, it seems like that's what he wants fans to think, but that isn't necessarily the case. (Insert grunts of annoyance here). After appearing on L.A. radio's Power 106 on Tuesday, the 19-year-old said that he'd be quitting music after his next album, "Journals," drops on Dec. 23. PHOTOS: Justin Bieber in Los Angeles "After the new album, I'm actually, I'm retiring man, I'm retiring," the wildly successful pop star said on "Big Boy's Neighborhood.

Carter Paysinger, the principal of Beverly Hills High School, said Monday that he welcomes an independent review called by the Beverly Hills Unified School District into the for-profit summer sports camp he owns. The review was in response to an article in The Times last week that reported that the Beverly Hills Sports Academy, held on campus, is owned by Paysinger and operated by two school employees. Parents say they were led to believe that the academy was a mandatory school-sanctioned camp for athletes and that fees would help fund sports teams.

BEIRUT - When clashes between Syrian rebels and government forces spilled into his Palestinian neighborhood outside Damascus, Amir knew where to go: Shatila, a teeming Palestinian camp in Lebanon notorious as the site of a massacre during Lebanon's civil war. "Most of us have relatives here and friends in these camps, so we feel that they will break bread with us," Amir said as he sat down for breakfast with friends in a cramped storefront in...

YARMOUK, Syria - They emerged from a dim alley called Rama Street, some carried on stretchers or pushed in wheelchairs, others dragging bulging suitcases as they looked for loved ones waiting beyond the clutch of gunmen and aid staffers. "I'm so happy: I can finally feed my children properly," said a gaunt but exhilarated 21-year-old named Ruba, clutching an infant son and a 3-year-old daughter as she strode down the muddy street to freedom Tuesday. The Syrian woman and others had finally escaped the war-ravaged confines of the Yarmouk camp, where about 18,000 people remain trapped without food, running water, electricity or other necessities in what was once home to more than 200,000.

Defensive end Ellis McCarthy, considered the jewel of UCLA's freshman class, underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. McCarthy, ranked the No. 2 defensive tackle by Scout.com last year, will miss the first part of training camp. UCLA also has had three players take medical retirements -- linebacker Mike Orloff (knee), safety Alex Mascarenas (concussion) and guard Wade Yandall (concussion). Linebacker Jordan Zumwalt, who missed spring practice with a bruised kidney, has been cleared to practice.

Top prospects Joc Pederson and Zach Lee will be in the Dodgers' major league spring training camp for the first time, the team announced Tuesday. The list of non-roster players who will be in camp will include catcher Miguel Olivo, a 12-year major league veteran who signed a minor league contract. Olivo, 35, batted .203 with four home runs and nine runs batted in in 33 games last season with the Miami Marlins. He figures to add depth behind starter A.J. Ellis and projected backup Tim Federowicz.

Former UCLA forward Reeves Nelson will be invited to the Lakers training camp that begins in early October after he signs a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, potentially worth about $700,000 with the team, Nelson told The Times on Tuesday. Nelson would probably be considered a long shot to make the Lakers. But he considers the training camp invitation to be a blessing, particularly because he was dismissed from UCLA in December of 2011, largely for his disruptive attitude. “I'm very grateful,” Nelson said.

University of Detroit Mercy forward Nick Minnerath will not be attending training camp with the Lakers, according to Dave Murphy of Forum Blue and Gold . Minnerath reported on Twitter in August that he was invited by the Lakers to camp, but now the 6-foot-9 forward has chosen instead to play for Obradoiro CAB in the Spanish ACB League. His original tweets showed his initial enthusiasm at the opportunity to play with the Lakers: Got that Lakers Vet Camp invite....